A 


'  C?  VVJ 


\ 


\ 


%\ )t  American  iStble  ^octetp 

Desires  to  Call  Attention  to  its  Full  Line  of 

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FOR 

Sunday  Schools  and  Mission  Work 


SPECIAL  ATTENTION  is  called  to  the  following  Editions : 


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% \)t  talent  jfttsstonarp 


'vr'- 


■ 


. 


Clje  Silent  iHtsotonavp 

♦  ♦  ♦  ♦ 


A  SHORT  STORY  OF  ONE  YEAR’S  WORK 

OF  THE 

AMERICAN  BIBLE  SOCIETY 

1902 


WORLD  WIDE  BIBLE  WORK 

PUBLISHED  QUAKTEKLY  BY 

THE  AMERICAN  BIBLE  SOCIETY,  NEW  YORK  CITY 


Vol.l.  No.  4 


Ten  Cents  a  Year 


November,  1302 


%  fi rst  Wort* 


We  present  in  the  following  pages  an  attractive  survey  of  a  year's 
work  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  usef  ul  Christian  institutions  of  the 
American  churches.  We  are  indebted  to  Mrs.  A.  E.  Colton ,  the  wife  of 
the  Rev.  A.  E.  Colton ,  of  Dorchester ,  Mass.,  for  the  principal  editorial 
work  in  connection  with  the  preparation  of  this  story.  It  is  intended  to 
be  an  appeal  to  all  into  whose  hands  it  may  come.  The  work  of  the 
American  Bible  Society  is  not  as  generally  known  and  appreciated,  per¬ 
haps,  as  it  was  a  generation  ago.  This  is  not  due  to  any  falling  off  of 
its  activities,  but  to  the  great  variety  of  other  interests  which  have,  dur¬ 
ing  the  recent  years,  come  in  to  claim  the  attention  of  Christian  people. 
It,  however,  has  been  constantly  enlarging  its  field  of  usefulness,  until 
it  has  become  one  of  the  great  world  societies.  It  has  seized  recent  open¬ 
ings  in  Puerto  Rico,  the  Philippines,  and  Cuba,  as  opportunities  for 
notable  service:  Its  story  speaks  for  itself  in  the  following  pages.  We 
ask  for  a  considerate  reading  of  this  record  of  its  achievements,  and  for 
the  generous  and  hearty  support  of  all  good  people.  The  Society  is  not 
rich.  Its  endowments  are  not  sufficient  for  anything  like  a  support  of 
its  far-reaching  work.  It  needs  large  and  generous  gifts  of  individuals, 
offerings  in  all  the  churches,  and  remembrances  in  legacies.  It  could 
double  its  work  if  its  income  were  doubled.  Contributors  of  $30  may 
become  Life  Members,  of  $150  Life  Directors,  of  the  Society.  All  funds 
should  be  sent  to  Mr.  William  Foulke,  Treasurer,  Bible  House,  Astor 
Place ,  New  York,  N.  Y. 


Cl \)t  talent  Jltsstoitarj? 


1.  THE  WORK  OF  THE  SILENT  MISSIONARY. 

2.  ITS  MANY  VOICES. 

3.  THE  NEW  VOICES  OF  THE  PAST  YEAR. 

4.  PRICES  AND  PRESSES. 

5.  HERALDS  AND  HELPERS  IN  MANY  LANDS. 

6.  MISSIONARY  FRIENDS  OF  THE  SILENT  MISSIONARY. 

7.  HEROES  UNCROWNED. 

N 

8.  THE  HOME  OFFICE. 


9.  SOME  IMPORTANT  FIGURES. 


Cijc  Silent  i^ltsstonarp 


i.  Clje  ^orJ»  of  tl)c  Silent  <dlf)tssionatv 

WERE  there  new  evidence  needed  of  the  divine  inspiration  of 
the  Scriptures,  it  might  be  found  in  wonderful  instances  of 
the  work  of  the  Silent  Missionary — The  Bible  —  in  guiding  sin- 

stricken  souls  to  a 
saving  knowledge  of 
the  glorious  gospel. 

So  marvelously  is 
its  living  truth  adapt¬ 
ed  to  the  needs  of  the 
heart  universal,  that 
it  appeals  with  irre¬ 
sistible  force  to  the 
reader,  if  there  be  but 
a  receptive  mind  and 
a  teachable  spirit. 

As  missionaries  have  said,  “  The  Bible  can  often  go  where  tlie 
Christian  worker  may  not  win  access 

Only  a  little  book — not  a  strange  foreigner  who  must  banish  sus¬ 
picion  or  prejudice  before  his  words  will  have  weight. 

Only  a  little  book,  silent  yet  eloquent,  not  argumentative,  yet  pa¬ 
tient  and  persistent  in  presenting,  like  a  wise  physician,  the  soul’s  ail¬ 
ment  and  the  remedy :  “All  have  sinned ;  ”  “Ye  must  be  born  again ;  ” 
and  then  that  epitome  of  power,  “God  so  loved  the  world,  that  He 
gave  His  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  might 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.” 

One  humble,  faithful  Christian  has  said:  “I  never  had  a  chance 
to  learn  to  read,  but  I  could  spell  out  words  a  little.  I  had  a  Bible 
given  me  and  one  day,  when  I  had  nothing  else  to  do,  I  was  trying  to 
read  it,  and  I  came  upon  the  third  chapter  of  John  and  spelled  out 


8 


the  sixteenth  verse.  I  kept  thinking  it  over,  and  I  spelled  out  more 
verses;  and  it’s  this  little  Bible  that  has  changed  my  life.” 

A  New  Testament  bought  of  a  colporteur  in  a  little  mining  town 
in  Mexico,  in  a  few  months  resulted  in  the  winning  to  Jesus  Christ  of 
a  mother,  son,  daughter,  and  grandson. 

In  the  same  country  a  young  man,  a  Catholic,  bought  a  Bible  and 
in  eight  years  read  it  through  ten  times,  and  gathered  a  circle  for  its 
reading  aloud  regularly  every  Sabbath.  He  asked  for  some  one  to 
come  and  tell  them  “how  the  Protestants  say  Mass.” 

And  a  colporteur  of  the  American  Bible  Society  writes:  “The 
past  month  was  one  of  the  happiest  of  my  life,  because  I  know  of 
twenty  persons  who,  during  this  time,  have  come  to  a  saving  knowl¬ 
edge  of  God  through  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures  alone.”  Thus  liv¬ 
ing  and  powerful  to-day  is  the  ministry  of  this  Silent  Missionary. 

2.  3jtjs  jttanp  iBwccgi 

OUR  little  cut  will  be  recognized  by  those  who  have  visited  the 
historical  collection  of  our  Pilgrim  Fathers  at  Plymouth,  Mass. 
There,  carefully  preserved  in  a  glass 
case,  is  this  quaint,  time-stained 
Bible,  a  silent  missionary  which  re¬ 
presents  the  first  definite  missionary 
work  in  this  country,  and  is  typical 
of  the  world- wide  Bible  work  that  to¬ 
day  underlies  all  evangelistic  effort. 

Its  language  is  not  intelligible  to 
any  living  person,  being  that  of  a 
tribe  of  Indians  now  extinct,  for 
whom  God’s  word  was  translated, 
in  1663,  by  the  Rev.  John  Eliot,  of 
Boston. 

This  eminent  divine,  “being  dead 
yet  speaketli,”  not  only  by  his  Christ- 
like  spirit  in  giving  the  Gospel  to 
the  needy  in  the  midst  of  those 
stressful  times,  but  by  his  remarkable  sagacity  and  spiritual  fore¬ 
sight  in  realizing  thus  early  that  the  Bible,  in  the  native  speech 


•Chi 

«0<J 

«•$ 

«oS 

•S 

«•<* 

•k; 

«oc 

•OSi 

<051 

•K. 

OK  i 
OK- 

<•5 


M  A  M  V  S  S  E 
WUNNEETUPANATAMWB 


rx* 

& 

Ixo. 

5<o, 

txo 


UP-BIBLUM  GODS 


NANEESW  E 


5to 

J>*o 


NITKKONE  TESTAMENT  S 

KAH  WONK  !•■£ 

WUSKU  TESTAMENT,  -g 

I  5*0 

No 

- 

'SCO 

N*  cjjofhkjnnunxA  nafhpr  Wortinneumob  Rl$  7  ^ 

oob  afoowcitC 

JOHN  ELIOT-  >ff 

- -  .Ufl* 

- - - - 

,  r** 

•  JXO 

R1DG  t  ;g 

Printcuoopoafljpc  SmtiucI  Cttv  k<ih  J*k*[*>. 

l  <S  6  l. 


v¥¥¥y¥¥y¥vyv*¥vyv¥i 

TITLE  PAGE  OF  ELIOT  BIBLE. 


9 


of  a,  nation,  is  the  foundation  of  all  missionary  effort.  John  Eliot 
put  into  action  what  was  recently  said  by  one  of  the  secretaries  of 
the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Foreign  Missions:  “  We 
regard  no  branch  of  our  work  as  more  important  than  putting  the 
Scriptures  in  the  language  of  a  people  into  their  hands.  ” 

The  most  earnest  and  eloquent  gospel  appeal  of  human  lips  can 
never  take  the  place  of  the  Master’s  own  words  as  a  living  message 
to  awaken  hearts  from  the  torpor  of  ignorance  of  the  glorious  news 
of  salvation.  Missionaries  testify  that  as  a  factor  in  the  evangeliza¬ 
tion  of  the  world,  no  over-estimate  can  be  put  upon  the  value  of  the 
translation  of  the  Bible  into  foreign  languages  and  dialects. 

The  Scriptures  are  now  published  in  about  400  different  languages 
and  dialects,  and  are  issued  and  circulated  by  the  American  Bible 
Society  in  more  than  100. 

The  Pen  and  the  Scholar. 

The  first  essential,  then,  for  sending  the  Silent  Missionary  forth  on 
its  message  of  peace  is  the  service  of  the  pen  and  the  scholar.  Few 
understand  the  arduous  toil,  and  mental  and  spiritual  acumen  re¬ 
quired  to  take  a  language,  at  best  barren  and  limited  in  terms  of 
Christian  meaning,  and  often  crude  and  coarse,  and  use  this  as  a 
medium  for  expressing  the  high  and  holy  thoughts  of  God’s  word 
and  bringing  them  within  the  comprehension  of  dulled  and  sin- 
darkened  minds. 

Incurable  paralysis  left  Bishop  Schereschewsky  well-nigh  help¬ 
less,  but  he  retained  the  use  of  the  front  finger  of  each  hand,  and  he 
himself  wrote  on  the  typewriter  every  word  of  his  translation  of  the 
Bible  into  the  Wenli  (Chinese)  dialect.  This  is  but  a  part  of  his 
work. 

For  twenty  years  now  he  has  sat  in  the  same  chair,  working  with 
a  persistence  that  knows  no  rest  or  intermission,  requiring  two  scribes 
to  keep  pace  with  him;  doing,  perhaps,  more  than  any  other  mission¬ 
ary  for  the  evangelization  of  China,  and  yet  planning  another  ten 
years’  work. 

This  is  but  one  incident  of  the  labors  of  a  noble  band  of  self- 
sacrificing  men  in  different  lands,  who  are  giving  their  time  and 
talent  with  untiring  devotion  to  this  work,  little  known  to  the  world, 
but  recorded  above  in  letters  of  gold. 


10 


3.  €l)c  0ttx)  iSotccss  of  tl)c  peat 


ACH  year  there  are  added  new  translations  or  new  versions  to 


1  the  list  of  Scriptures  in  many  tongues,  which  help  to  make 
more  perfect  the  modern  miracle  of  Pentecost. 

China. — At  this  opportune  time,  when  the  “demand  for  the  Scrip¬ 
tures  in  China  is  unprecedented,”  it  is  a  great  step  in  progress  to  give 
to  the  common  people  a  Bible  suited  to  their  understanding.  “The 
translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  Easy  Wenli  means  a  book  which 
can  be  read  anywhere  in  the  Chinese  Empire.”  This  arduous  task  of 
twelve  years  will  soon  be  completed  by  Bishop  Schereschewsky.  ‘ ‘  The 
hope  of  China  is  in  her  masses  more  than  in  her  gentry  or  litera¬ 
ture.”  And  thus  they  are  to  be  reached  with  the  tidings  of  hope. 

Further,  the  Gospels  of  Matthew  and  Luke  have  been  revised  in 
Mandarin,  which  is  a  dialect  spoken  by  three-fourths  of  the  people  of 
China,  and  work  has  been  forwarded  on  four  of  the  Epistles.  Mat¬ 
thew  has  been  made  ready  for  the  press  in  High  Wenli. 

Chronicles  I.  and  II.,  with  Ezra  and  half  of  Jeremiah,  were  trans¬ 
lated  into  Shanghai  Colloquial  and  adapted  to  the  Soochow  Collo¬ 
quial. 

The  Levant  or  Mohammedan  Regions. — A  most  important  work  has 
been  done  at  Constantinople,  under  Dr.  Herrick’s  supervision,  in 
the  completion  of  the  harmonizing  of  the  three  Turkish  texts,  Arabo, 
Greco,  and  Armeno.  This  has  given  a  text  which  will  meet  a  great 
need  for  many  years  to  come.  A  new  edition  of  the  Armenian 
Bible  is  also  in  course  of  preparation  which  will  greatly  increase 
its  usefulness. 

Farther  India ,  Siam,  and  Laos. — The  Books  of  Isaiah,  Philippians, 
Timothy  I.  and  II.,  and  Mark,  have  been  translated  into  Laos,  re¬ 
spectively,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Wilson,  McKean,  Dodd,  and  Irwin. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Carrington  still  has  before  him  the  translation  into 
Siamese  of  Isaiah,  and  the  revision  of  Hebrews. 

Philippine  Islands. — With  native  help,  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Goodrich, 
Agent  of  the  Society  in  these  new  possessions  of  ours,  has  translated 
the  Gospels  of  Matthew,  Mark,  John,  and  The  Acts  into  the  Pam- 
panga  dialect. 

The  rendering  of  St.  Luke  into  Visa  van  de  Iloilo  is  in  progress, 


11 


and  it  is  eagerly- 
anticipated  by  mis¬ 
sionaries  for  the 
important  work  on 
the  Island  of 
Panay.  A  member 
of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church, 

South,  Chaplain 
John  Randolph,  of 
the  United  States 
Army,  has  transla¬ 
ted  the  Gospel  of 
St.  John  into  the 
Visayan  de  Cebu 
dialect  and  pre¬ 
sented  it  to  the  So¬ 
ciety  in  the  name 
of  his  Conference. 

A  friend  upon 
learning  that  fifty 

J  A  PHILIPPINE  HOME. 

dollars  covered  the 

cost  of  putting  one  of  the  Gospels  into  a  Philippine  dialect,  sent  this 
amount  to  be  used  for  another  Gospel.  Both  from  the  standpoint  of 
Christianity  and  of  patriotism,  could  there  be  a  better  investment  for 
five  golden  eagles,  than  this  of  transforming  them  into  golden  keys  to 
let  in  the  heavenly  light  of  hope  to  the  darkened  hearts  of  these 
poor  people,  now  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes  ? 

South  America. — In  the  needy  and  interesting  regions  of  Peru,  Bo¬ 
livia,  and  Ecuador,  an  important  new  step  has  been  made  this  year  in 
providing  portions  of  the  New  Testament  in  the  native  language  of 
the  Quicliua  Indians,  descendants  of  the  ancient  Incas,  who  have  been 
reduced  by  five  centuries  of  Spanish  and  Romish  misrule  to  pitiful 
degradation.  This  work  has  been  done  by  a  gifted  Peruvian  writer, 
Mrs.  Matto  de  Turner,  who  became  interested  in  the  Bible  cause,  and 
in  this  special  need. 

Plans  are  being  made  for  the  revision  of  the  Almeida  Portuguese 


12 


version,  which,  has  long1  been  greatly  desired  by  missionaries  of 
Brazil.  A  final  Spanish  version,  which  will  be  very  helpful  for  sev¬ 
eral  Latin- American  countries,  is  to  be  prepared. 


4.  pfccg  anti  presses- 


HE  second,  and  no  less  important  preparation  for  the  work  of 


L  the  Silent  Missionary,  is  the  careful  printing  of  the  translations. 
The  printing  of  these  laboriously  prepared  manuscripts  in  so  many 
strange-sounding  and  peculiar-appearing  languages  is  no  slight  task. 
This  work  the  Bible  Society  undertakes,  and  often  at  great  expense  it 
furnishes  these  Scriptures  at  prices  which  do  not  admit  of  profit. 

Think  of  a  well-made  Gospel  for  two  cents,  a  New  Testament  for 
five,  and  a  complete  Bible  for  fifteen  cents  ! 

It  is  not  the  policy  of  the  Society  to  give  away  Scriptures  where 
the  price,  or  even  a  partial  equivalent,  can  be  offered.  It  is  the  wish 
of  the  Society,  however,  never  to  deny  the  needy  who  are  not  able  to 
pay;  hut,  alas  !  their  generosity  must  often  be  restricted  and  the 
hungry  go  empty,  because  the  gifts  of  the  Christian  people  of  our 
land  are  not  sufficient  to  supply  the  world  with  its  demand  for  the 
word  of  God. 

The  bare  list  of  languages  and  dialects  of  strange  peoples  in  which 
the  Scriptures  are  printed  is  too  long  to  give  here ;  Silent  Missionaries 
every  one  of  these  volumes,  carrying  the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth. 

The  printing  of  the  Society  is  done  not  only  at  the  Bible  House, 
Astor  Place,  New  York,  but  in  China,  at  Shanghai  and  Foochow; 
in  Japan,  at  Yokohama  and  Tokyo;  in  Turkey,  at  Constantinople; 
in  Syria,  at  Beirut;  and  in  Siam,  at  Bangkok. 

The  total  issues  for  the  last  year  in  this  and  in  foreign  lands  were 
one  and  four-fifths  million  copies,  or  J,723,79L  This  is  an  increase 
of  169,663  over  the  issues  of  last  year.  About  one-half  of  this  year’s 
total  issues  came  from  the  Bible  House,  New  York;  of  the  remainder, 
a  large  part  were  printed  at  the  seven  foreign  printing  establish¬ 
ments  mentioned  above. 

The  great  number  of  the  year’s  issues  of  Scriptures  can  be  better 
realized  if  expressed  in  concrete  form. 


Allowing1  one  inch  to  a  volume,  if  piled  up  one  book  upon 
another,  they  would  make  a  column  twenty  miles  high.  A  circle 
reaching  round  the  .world  could  be  made  of  the  printed  leaves  of  the 
year’s  issues.  Estimating  from  their  weight,  five  ordinary  freight 
trains  would  be  needed  to  carry  the  issues  of  this  year.  And  yet 
this  is  but  “a  drop  in  the  bucket,”  for  at  the  present  rate  of  distribu¬ 
tion  it  would  take  500  years  in  China  alone  to  supply  each  person 
with  a  Bible. 

5.  Spcral&s  ana  helpers  tn  Stpanp  HatxDjS 

THE  Silent  Missionary  has  many  servants  and  friends.  The 
American  Bible  Society  represents  the  organized  efforts  of  the 
churches  of  America  to  give  the  Bible  to  all  peoples.  This  work  of 
circulating  the  Scriptures  is  carried  on  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

For  convenience  of  view,  these  branches  of  work  may  be  con¬ 
sidered  in  two  groups,  namely : 

1.  Under  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  2.  Under  other  flags. 

tEnDcr  the  ©tars  ano'  Stripes 

In  the  early  years  of  the  American  Bible  Society  the  auxiliaries 
carried  on  for  their  communities  and  States  the  same  work  that  the 
National  Society  did  for  the  world. 

The  advance  of  Christianity  in  our  land  has,  in  many  places,  nar¬ 
rowed  down  the  home  need  of  Scripture  distribution,  so  that  now  the 
more  important  duty  of  the  auxiliaries  is  to  help  the  National  Society 
by  promoting  the  interest  of  Christian  people  and  providing  means 
for  carrying  on  the  work. 

Some  auxiliaries  have  been  lukewarm  and  some  almost  entirely 
inactive  ;  others  have  never  failed  in  their  substantial  support  by 
regular  donations  sent  to  headquarters  at  New  York.  As  the  years 
pass  on  they  never  seem  to  feel  weariness,  or  to  lose  their  zeal ; 
especially  among  the  smaller  auxiliaries  is  this  true  of  the  Welsh 
societies.  A  partial  explanation  of  this  probably  lies  in  the  fact  that 
the  mothers,  wives  and  daughters,  with  systematic  diligence,  canvass 
for  the  contributions  to  the  Bible  cause. 

The  National  Society  is  ever  ready  with  whatever  aid  may  be 


14 


given  by  correspondence,  leaflets  and  periodicals,  and  it  is  its  earnest 
hope  that  the  mutual  relations  may  prove  increasingly  helpful. 

The  Society  carries  on  a  very  important  missionary  work  in  special 
regions  in  this  country.  It  stretches  forth  its  hand  to  the  lumber  men 
in  the  North;  to  the  freedmen  in  the  South;  to  city  missions  in  the 
populous  East;  to  miners  in  the  sparsely  settled  West;  to  immigrants 
as  they  first  step  on  our  shores;  to  sailors  on  the  sea;  to  Sunday 
schools  and  churches  on  the  prairies;  to  soldiers  on  the  battlefield; 
to  sufferers  in  hospitals;  to  inmates  of  asylums  and  prisons;  to 
educational  institutions,  and  such  organizations  as  the  Tract  Socie¬ 
ties,  Sunday  School  Unions,  Young  Men’s  Christian  Associations,  and 

t 

many  others. 

North  American  Indians. — Scripture  grants  have  also  been  made 
in  five  different  Indian  dialects  to  missionaries  among  the  tribes  in 
the  United  States  ;  but  the  English  Bible  is  being  more  and  more 
used  by  these  people. 

Special  Work  Among  the  Colored  People. — A  recently  formed  Agency 
has  had  a  most  interesting  half-year.  It  has  proven  to  be  a  field  sadly 
in  need  of  Bible  distribution.  The  Rev.  J.  P.  Wragg,  of  Atlanta,  Ga., 
the  Agent  of  the  Society,  is  often  asked  whether  he  has  the  Metho¬ 
dist,  Baptist,  or  Presbyterian  Bible  ;  and  when  told  it  is  neither,  he  is 
asked,  “  What  Bible  is  it  then  ?  ”  “  God’s  Bible,”  is  the  answer. 

One  of  his  colporteurs,  in  visiting  a  number  of  young  men  work¬ 
ing  in  a  shop,  found  not  one  who  had  ever  owned  a  Bible.  Many 
churches  and  Sunday  schools  are  reported  as  not  having  a  single 
copy  of  God’s  word. 

The  total  distribution  for  the  six  months  is  4,769  volumes.  Work 
has  been  done  in  eighty-seven  towns,  besides  many  rural  districts. 
The  good  results  are  already  seen  and  felt. 

Puerto  Rico. — The  Rev.  Donald  McLaren  is  the  Agent.  He  lives 
at  San  Juan.  A  Bible  depository  has  been  opened  in  that  city  with 
appropriate  dedicatory  exercises.  It  was  an  impressive  service, 
this — opening,  in  the  name  of  God,  of  a  depot  for  furnishing  copies  of 
His  holy  word,  in  the  capital  of  this  island,  where  for  nearly  400 
years  the  Bible  has  been  a  forbidden  book.  Many  of  the  large  num¬ 
bers  who  look  into  the  show-cases  say  that  they  have  never  before 
seen  a  Bible.  One  of  the  colporteurs  has  been  allowed  to  talk  in  the 


15 


schools  about  the  Bible.  In  spite  of  centuries  of  misgovernment, 
these  people  are  kindly,  courteous  and  teachable.  The  Stars  and 
Stripes  float  everywhere,  but  the  people  need  the  Gospel  to  make 
them  free  indeed.  The  Bible  in  the  hands  of  the  common  people  has 
proved  to  be  the  book  that  makes  nations. 

The  Philippines.  —  The  importance  of  giving  the  Bible  to  the  people 
of  these  islands  in  their  native  dialects  is  emphasized  by  the  fact 
that  ninety-five  per  cent,  of  the  population  cannot  read  Spanish. 
“  To  have  a  relig¬ 
ion  in  which  they 
can  think  and 
read  for  them¬ 
selves  is  marvel¬ 
ous  in  their  eves.” 

The  extent  of 
Bible  circulation 
and  the  eagerness 
of  the  people  for  it 
is  almost  beyond 
the  belief  of  those 
not  knowing  the  facts  about  the  Philippines.  The  total  circulation 
of  the  past  year  is  52,793  volumes.  This  is  a  little  short  of  mar¬ 
velous  in  view  of  the  bitter  opposition  of  the  Roman  Church,  the 
small  number  of  men  employed,  and  the  great  inconveniences  and 
danger  of  travel. 

Most  romantic  and  thrilling,  and  full  of  bravely-borne  hardships 
and  noble  self-denial,  are  the  experiences  of  Messrs.  Bear  and  Turner; 
going  by  clumsy  ox-carts  over  well-nigh  impassable  roads;  barely 
escaping  drowning  in  descending  swift  rapids  on  rude  rafts;  hungry, 
worn  and  weary  at  night,  having,  like  the  Master  they  serve,  “not 
where  to  lay  their  heads.”  But  hearts  are  eager  for  the  message  of  the 
King  which  these  faithful  heralds  bring.  In  one  place  the  president  of 
the  village  sent  runners  ahead  to  announce  their  approach  and  explain 
their  work.  The  people  came  out  to  the  road  and  waited,  buying  ea¬ 
gerly,  listening  earnestly.  One  is  reminded  of  New  Testament  scenes. 

Hundreds  of  prisoners  of  war  have  eagerly  taken  and  read  and  re¬ 
read  the  truth  which  makes  men  free  indeed. 


MR.  GOODRICH  IN  THE  STREETS  OF  MANILA  IN  THE 

RAINY  SEASON. 


16 


tmn&er  jflags 

The  American  Bible  Society  has  ten  regular  Agencies  in  different 
parts  of  the  world,  under  other  flags  than  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  each  in 
charge  of  an  Agent  who  is  assisted  in  the  work  of  Bible  distribution 
by  colporteurs.  The  self-sacrificing  labors  of  these  humble,  devoted 
followers  of  the  Master  will  be  mentioned  in  a  following  chapter. 
We  here  present  a  brief  story  of  these  different  foreign  agencies. 

I,  Mexico;  2,  Cuba;  3,  Central  America;  4t  Venezuela  and  Colombia;  5,  La 
Plata;  6,  Brazil;  7,  The  Levant;  8,  Siam  and  Laos;  9,  Korea;  JO, 
Japan  ;  J 1,  China. 

Mexico. — The  Rev.  H.  P.  Hamilton,  Agent,  Mexico  City,  Mexico. 

Superstition  Deep-Rooted,  but  Promising  Soil. 

Since  “  cliaritj7  begins  at  home,”  we  should  be  especially  interested 


A  MEXICAN  COLPORTEUR  READY  TO  START  ON  A  MOUNTAIN  TRIP 


17 


in  our  next-door  neighbor,  Mexico.  Here  must  be  met  the  hostility 
of  inherited  prejudices,  and  the  direct  antagonism  of  the  priesthood. 
And  yet  the  circulation  of  Scriptures  for  1901  was  35,932  volumes. 

Deep-rooted  superstition,  with  the  immorality  and  tyranny  of  the 
clergy  and  their  intense  opposition  to  the  Bible,  are  weights  round 
the  necks  of  the  people ;  yet  there  is  no  more  promising  soil,  for  the 
colporteurs  tell  of  wonderful  triumphs  of  the  Word  in  brightening 
many  hitherto  brutally-burdened  and  densely-darkened  lives,  and  of 
the  steadily  increasing  demand  for  the  “  light  of  life.” 

Cuba. — The  Rev.  J.  M.  Lopez-Guillen,  Agent,  Havana,  Cuba. 

u  Almost  Protestant.” 

The  selling  of  11,156  volumes  of  Scriptures  during  the  past  year, 
by  only  three  colporteurs  and  the  Agent,  means  hard  and  self-deny¬ 
ing  service  and  the  reaping  of  lasting  results.  One  colporteur  has 
visited  more  than  29,000  houses  the  past  year. 

The  Agent  has  used  the  stereopticon  with  good  results,  showing 
Bible  pictures. 

In  contrast  to  the  opposition  to  the  Word  in  Mexico,  we  are  told 
of  the  work  in  Cuba  that  “no  unkind  word  has  been  said  to  Bible 
sellers.”  The  people  have  lost  sight  of  the  meaning  of  true  religion, 
but  are  favorably  disposed.  One  says  of  them,  “They  are  almost 
Protestants  without  knowing  it.”  The  Spanish  priests  have  deserted 
the  villages.  Surely  there  is  a  grand  opportunity  for  .America  (to 
whom  they  look  for  protection)  to  teach  them  through  His  own 
blessed  book  that  “a  mighty  fortress  is  our  God,”  for  nations  and  for 
individuals,  against  the  powers  of  evil. 

Central  America. — The  Rev.  Francis  Penzotti,  Agent,  Guatemala 
City,  Guatemala. 

Blessing  America  for  Bibles  Sent. 

The  work  of  the  year  has  been  very  encouraging,  the  circulation 
of  the  Scriptures,  largely  in  the  Spanish  language,  reaching  up  to 
nearlv  13,000  volumes. 

There  are  not  only  hundreds,  but  thousands  of  souls  blessing  God 
for  those  in  America  who  have  sent  to  them  the  Bible  which  has 
proved  the  sure  guide  to  the  only  true  happiness,  both  for  time  and 
eternity.  ‘  ‘  There  are  many  difficulties,  but  the  bitter  opposition  of 


18 


enemies  has  abated,  and  the  life-giving  work  is  being  done  quietly, 
but  surely  through  the  creative  power  of  God’s  word.” 

Venezuela  and  Colombia. — The  Rev.  Joseph  Norwood,  Agent,  Bu- 
caramanga,  Colombia. 

Civil  Turmoil;  A  Gross  Religion, 

A  political  revolution  in  these  countries  has  made  such  unsettled 
conditions  that  even  the  rights  of  residents  to  private  correspondence 
with  friends  in  this  country  are  interfered  with.  Mercantile  houses 
in  New  York  complain  that  their  representatives  are  allowed  to  write 
only  commonplaces.  The  Society  has  been  able  to  receive  only 
formal  letters  from  its  Agent,  Mr.  Norwood.  He  says  he  has  been 
deprived  of  nearly  all  his  mail,  not  only  papers  but  letters,  for  two 
years,  and  he  does  not  know  when  the  ban  will  be  lifted.  He  is 
hungering  for  a  heart-soothing  word  from  loved  ones  far  away.  He 
continues,  “I  am  doing  what  I  can  in  Bible  distribution,  but  under 
untold  difficulties.” 

La  Plata  Agency.  —  The  Rev.  Andrew  Milne,  Agent,  Calle  Corri- 
entes,  Buenos  Ayres. 


Persecution,  but  Many  Signs  of  Promise. 

This  is  a  very  large  field,  covering  all  of  South  America  except 
the  Agencies  of  Brazil  and  Venezuela  and  Colombia. 


A  COLPORTEUR  ON  HIS  WAY  TO  BOLIVIA,  CAMPING  ON 

HIS  JOURNEY. 


Mr.  Milne  espe¬ 
cially  rejoices  in 
the  Bible  trans¬ 
lation  for  the 
Quichua  Indians. 
The  Scripture  dis¬ 
tribution  extends 
from  Cape  Horn 
to  the  Equator. 
The  best  feature 
of  the  work  is  the 
increased  reading 
with  profit  of  the 
volumes  circu¬ 
lated.  Another  important  point  is  that  in  the  day  schools,  no  less 
than  in  the  Sunday  schools,  the  Scriptures  are  constantly  taught. 


19 


Scriptures  distributed  in  military  prisons,  in  wilds  of  the  interior 
where  no  missionary  has  ever  been;  to  a  Welsh  colony,  which  had 
lost  their  possessions  and  Bibles  from  a  flood ;  to  sailors  and  officers 
on  shipboard;  these  are  some  of  the  items  of  a  journey  of  4,000  miles, 
occupying- 105  days. 

There  is  persecution  by  the  Romish  clergy.  Colporteurs  have 
been  stoned  and  threatened  with  death  by  mobs  led  by  priests;  and 
yet  the  leaven  is  quietly  working  and,  God  has  given  unmistakable 
signs  of  his  power,  which  fill  all  hearts  with  thanksgivings  for  the 
past  and  trust  for  the  future. 

In  this  vast  continent  the  importance  of  Scripture  circulation  is 
of  untold  value  because  it  is  well-nigh  the  only  evangelical  work  to 
reach  the  wide  stretches  of  sparsely  settled  regions. 

Brazil. — The  Rev.  H.  C.  Tucker,  Agent,  Caixa  454,  Rio  de  Janeiro. 

Many  Conversions  from  Scripture  Circulation. 

The  report  from  this  field  is  enthusiastic.  The  circulation  for  the 
past  year  was  just  a  little  short  of  50,000  volumes. 

One  specially  interesting  item  is  the  bringing  of  the  Bible  to  the 
attention  of  prominent  business  and  professional  men  in  large  cities. 
This  effort  has  been  very  successful  and  the  sales  remarkable. 

The  lives  of  the  masses  are  characterized  by  religious  indifference, 
sensuality  and  gambling;  but  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  is 
arousing  many  lost  souls  in  all  sections.  This  is  leading  to  renewed 
opposition  from  the  Romish  church.  Large  numbers  of  monks  and 
friars  are  coming  to  Brazil  from  other  countries,  and  are  active  and 
violent  in  their  war  against  Bible  circulation.  But  we  know  that 
“  the  word  of  God  enduretli  forever.” 

The  Levant. — The  Rev.  Marcellus  Bowen,  Agent,  Bible  House, 
Constantinople,  Turkey. 

Many  and  Varied  Obstacles,  but  Steady  Progress. 

This  Agency  covers  work  in  the  Turkish  Empire  and  Egypt.  The 
field  is  a  varied  one,  where  many  languages  are  spoken  and  where 
social  conditions  are  most  complicated,  causing  many  restrictions  up¬ 
on  Bible  circulation,  which,  however,  are  gradually  being  removed. 

The  total  issues  of  the  Levant  Agency  amount  to  nearly  two 
million  volumes.  There  is  a  gratifying  and  encouraging  increase  in 
sales  by  colporteurs. 


20 


The  colporteurs  and  correspondents  have  labored  on  with  their 
usual  perseverance  and  pluck. 

In  Bulgaria  great  poverty  prevails;  the  active  teaching  of  atheists 
is  also  a  serious  obstacle;  but  there  are  some  cases  where  the  larger 
part  of  the  population  of  a  village  has  been  awakened  to  read  the 
Bible. 

The  American  Board  stations  at  Van,  Harpoot  and  Aintab,  have 
been,  helped  by  the  American  Bible  Society  workers  and  by  Scripture 
grants. 

In  Diarbekir  the  Catholic  bishop  purchased  Bibles  from  the  depot 
for  distribution  among  the  priests,  telling  them  that  the  Protestants 
were  right  in  selling  these  books.  The  children  study  the  Bible  in 
the  schools  in  Marash,  and  tell  in  their  homes  what  they  have 
learned.  In  Aintab  there  is  an  awakening  of  girls  and  women  who 
are  trying  to  learn  to  read  the  word  of  God  for  themselves.  Bedouin 
Arabs,  not  having  money,  gave  butter,  eggs  and  milk,  horns  or 
brass  ornaments  for  Bibles. 

The  adoption  of  the  Bible  as  a  text  book  in  Armenian  and  Greek 
schools  has  been  accomplished  in  some  places,  which  is,  of  course,  a 
most  important  point  to  be  gained.  So  favorable  to  the  Bible  was 
one  village  that  two  priests  felt  compelled  to  get  Scriptures  them¬ 
selves. 

In  Egypt. — “Never  before  has  there  been  such  a  sowing  time  as 
just  now.  The  Bible  is  finding  its  way  to  all  classes.  Many  Mos¬ 
lems  are  reading  the  Word,  seeking  for  light.  Has  the  Bible  ever 
been  read  in  vain  by  such  seekers  ?  ”  A  former  Moslem,  who  was 
converted  to  the  truth  by  his  own  study  of  the  Bible,  is  conducting 
Gospel  meetings  in  Cairo  and  other  places. 

/Siam  and  Laos. — The  Rev.  John  Carrington,  Agent,  Bangkok, 
Siam. 

Need  of  More  Helpers. 

A  busy  year  of  enthusiastic  work  by  an  able  and  consecrated 
servant  of  the  Master,  is  what  Mr.  Carrington’s  report  means.  Five 
thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-four  more  sales  than  ever  before 
have  been  made.  Seven  different  languages  were  represented  in  the 
circulation.  In  one  day,  in  the  large  inland  town  of  Korat,  the 


21 


remarkable  sale  of  more  than  1,000  volumes  was  made  by  the 
Agent  with  one  assistant.  Bangkok,  with  its  five  million  souls, 
has  been  canvassed;  this,  together  with  the  work  of  translating, 
revising,  proofreading,  care  of  colporteurs  and  touring  on  long 
trips,  is  beyond  one  man’s  strength.  Were  there  more  helpers, 
even  the  large  sales  made  would  be  greatly  increased,  for  the 
Scriptures  are  eagerly  sought  and  the  extension  of  railroads  is  fa¬ 
cilitating  travel.  The  Society  hopes  soon  to  send  an  assistant  to 
relieve  Mr.  Carrington,  and  advance  the  work. 

Korea. — The  Rev.  Henry  Loomis,  Agent,  Yokohama,  Japan. 

Need  of  Bible  Translation* 

The  rapid  growth  of  Christianity  in  Korea  continues,  and  with 
it  the  increasing  need  of  a  translation  of  the  Scriptures  in  a  perma¬ 
nent  form.  As  it  is,  the  versions  already  made  are  in  general  use, 
and  are  highly  valued  by  the  native  Christians.  In  a  country  where 
there  is  so  little  literature,  the  word  of  God  has  a  much  more  im¬ 
portant  place  than  is  accorded  to  it  in  some  other  lands.  Poor,  as 
-  the  people  are,  the  sale  of  Scriptures  continues  to  be  large. 

Japan. — The  Rev.  Henry  Loomis,  Agent,  Yokohama,  Japan. 

Bible  Distribution  the  Basis  of  Revival. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  many  of  the  converts  in  the  recent 
religious  awakening  in  Japan  had  a  foundation  knowledge  of  the 
truth  from  the  purchase  of  Bibles,  at  different  times,  of  Bible  Society 
colporteurs.  It  is  not  often  that  we  so  soon  see  the  fulfillment  of 
the  promise,  “My  word  shall  not  return  unto  me  void.”  The  sales 
for  the  past  year  were  181,492  copies,  the  largest  for  any  one  twelve 
months  since  the  beginning  of  Bible  distribution  in  Japan.  The 
great  increase  is  largely  due  to  the  two  foreign  colporteurs,  Messrs. 
Snyder  and  Lawrence,  whose  work  cannot  be  too  highly  spoken  of. 
Their  united  sales  amount  to  97,716  copies.  In  one  day,  in  Kyoto, 
with  the  help  of  a  friend,  721  copies  were  sold;  and  many  of  the 
buyers  are  reading  the  Word  for  the  first  time,  and  after  reading 
seek  out  the  missionaries  for  further  guidance,  and  definite  conver¬ 
sions  follow. 

Mr.  Lawrence  tells  of  pilgrims  coming  many  weary  miles  to  pray 
at  the  shrine  of  Mt.  Fuji,  and  buying  the  book  which  tells  of  the  “true 


22 


way.”  Six  thousand  five  hundred  copies  were  sold  in  one  month  at 
Niigata.  The  pasting  of  a  sign  “Day  of  Rest”  over  closed  shut¬ 
ters  regularly  every  Sabbath  is  the  result  of  the  reading  of  a  Bible 
which  was  sold  at  half  price. 

The  purchaser  of  another  of  these  half-price  Bibles,  as  a  result  of 
her  study,  has  given  up  her  home  and  is  striving  to  fit  herself  to  be 
a  Bible  woman  among  her  needy  sisters. 

China. — The  Rev.  John  R.  Hykes,  Agent,  14  Kiukiang  Road, 
Shanghai,  China. 

How  Contradictory  Seem  the  Conditions  of  China  ! 

Volcanic  fires  scarcely  quenched,  forebodings  for  the  future  cloud¬ 
ing  the  sky,  yet  the  present  bright  with  the  promise  of  rich  results; 


MR.  GAMMON,  SUPERINTENDENT  IN  NORTH  CHINA,  ON  HIS  TRAVELS. 

The  Books  and  Provisions  are  in  the  Cart  and  the  Bedding-  on  top  of  the  Cart. 

obstacles  of  yesterday  have  become  opportunities  of  to-day;  closed 
hearts  have  been  opened  by  God,  which  faith  assures  us  are  not  to  be 
shut  by  man’s  opposition. 


23 

What  else  can  mean  these  statements  from  the  report  of  the  Bible 
Society’s  work  in  China  ? 

“  The  demand  for  the  Scriptures  is  unprecedented .” 

“  We  are  not  able  to  get  Bibles  bound  fast  enough  for  orders .” 

“  The  people  come  after  the  Bibles — they  are  not  thrust  upon  tlxemf 

The  sale  of  Scriptures  during  this  past  year  is  the  largest  of  any 
previous  twelve  months  ;  and  where  formerly  Portions  were  purchased, 
now  whole  Bibles  are  in  demand .” 

“  We  issued  more  Mandarin  Bibles  in  the  last  three  months  of  this 
year  than  would  have  been  considered  ample  stock  for  eight  years  a 
decade  agof 

In  view  of  the  bitterness  and  recent  date  of  the  anti-foreign  cru¬ 
sade,  these  facts  are  really  little  short  of  marvelous. 

“A  spirit  of  inquiry  and  receptivity  is  everywhere  apparent. 
Christianity  is  being  studied  as  never  before.” 

There  is  a  remarkable  movement  among  some  of  the  highest  offi¬ 
cials  who  favor  foreign  improvement,  for  putting  the  entire  Bible 
into  what  they  consider  a  liner  literary  form  for  the  gentry;  the 
object  being  to  allay  their  prejudices  against  it,  not  because  they  as 
yet  believe  in  its  sacredness,  but  because  the  Bible  is  seen  to  be  an 
inherent  part  of  the  life  of  great  nations,  and  hence  helpful  for 
China’s  progress. 

The  Bible  bookstore  in  Peking  is  to  be  re-erected.  A  thousand 
dollars  would  pay  for  it  all,  including,  also,  a  suitable  home  for  col¬ 
porteurs  when  they  return  from  their  long  and  exhausting  tours. 
Could  there  be  a  more  fitting  memorial  gift  than  this  from  some 
Christian  friend,  in  honor  of  the  noble  martyred  colporteurs  ?  They 
“being  dead  yet  speak,”  for  the  people  are  inquiring  into  the  teach¬ 
ings  of  the  Book  which  could  so  wonderfully  sustain  their  victims 
with  gentle  patience  and  unfaltering  courage. 

The  future  is  in  God’s  hands.  But  we  have  the  present,  and  can 
see  that  the  former  agonized  cry  of  a  consecrated  worker,  “0  rock, 
rock;  when  wilt  thou  open?”  has  been  answered,  and  that  every¬ 
where  in  this  land  God’s  spirit  is  opening  many  hearts  by  means  of 
his  wonderful  Word. 

Is  there  not  then  a  message  to  every  Christian  in  America  in  the 
statement  of  Mr.  Gammon,  the  Superintendent  of  Colporteurs  for 


24 

North  China,  who  made  so  many  friends  in  America  during  his  visit 
here  ? 

“  The  call  for  Bibles  and  Testaments  comes  from  every  part  of  the 
Empire ,  and  we  are  unable  to  meet  it  unless  more  funds  are  available 
for  next  year." 


6.  tfrtcntiss  of  tl)c  Client 


The  Best  Helper  of  the  Missionary  is  the  Bible,  and  the  Bible  has  no  Better 

Friend  than  the  Missionary, 


THE  American  Bible  Society  carries  on  co-operative  work  through 
its  correspondents  in  Europe  in  eight  different  countries:  Nor¬ 
way,  Sweden,  Switzerland,  Austria,  France,  Germany,  Spain  and  Italy. 
In  Asia,  in  Arabia,  Persia  and  India;  also  in  Africa  and  Micronesia. 


Norway  and  Sweden.  —  From  the  correspondents  in  these  two 
countries  comes  the  cheering  news  of  votes  by  recent  Methodist  Con¬ 
ferences  that  collections  be  taken  in  all  the  churches  for  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Bible  Society. 

France. — “The  Bible  work  is  most  encouraging  in  this  land  of 
great  possibilities.” 

Germany. — “A  Bible  Society  Sunday  was  observed  by  all  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  congregations  last  October,  and  was  a  blessed 
day.”  It  was  appointed  by  Bishop  J.  H.  Vincent. 

Switzerland. — There  has  been  a  circulation  of  4,600  Testaments 
and  Bibles,  and  16,355  Portions.  The  report  tells  of  a  colporteur,  a 
convert  from  Catholicism,  who  after  a  ten-hours’  walk  held  a  gospel 
meeting  in  the  evening,  answering  many  questions  as  to  his  change 
of  religion,  and  then  sold  every  book  he  had.  He  is  accomplishing 
much  good. 

Italy. — Through  emigrants,  who  have  returned  home  from  the 
United  States,  Italy  has  asked  the  Bible  Society  to  send  colporteurs 
there,  and  appropriations  have  been  made  for  one  to  begin  the  work 
in  the  home  land  of  the  Pope. 

Spain. — Nine  hundred  and  fifty -one  copies  of  the  Bible  have  been 
sent  during  the  past  year  to  missionaries  of  the  American  Board  for 


this  country,  which  is  slowly  hut  surely  having  its  closed  doors 
opened  by  the  wonderful  key  of  God’s  word. 

Austria. — The  Bible  Society  has  for  its  valued  correspondent  here 
the  beloved  and  honored  Rev.  A.  W.  Clark,  missionary  of  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Board.  He  says,  “the  ground  here  is  intensely  hard.  The 
majority  of  both  Catholics  and  Protestants  believe  nothing.” 

“How  can  I  believe  in  love,”  said  one,  “when  the  priests  are  so 
cruel.”  Dr.  Clark  tells  of  his  calling  upon  an  atheist  who  began  by 
ridiculing  him  and  ended  with  the  purchase  of  a  New  Testament, 
which  he  is  reading. 

A  woman  ordered  Dr.  Clark  in  sharp  tones  to  leave  the  house; 
but  his  kind  words  to  the  children  softened  her,  and  finally  a  New 
Testament  was  purchased.  The  result  was  the  conversion  of  two 
young  men. 

Arabia. — The  Bible  Society’s  correspondent  tells  of  one  of  his  col¬ 
porteurs  who  has,  himself,  sold  through  the  year  900  copies  of  Scrip¬ 
tures,  and  hazarded  his  life  for  the  task;  and  the  report  adds,  “not 
only  are  we  sure  that  the  Bible  is  read/but  that  it  is  loved.”  “Groups 
of  Moslems  are  known  to  be  meeting  by  night  to  study  the  Word.” 
In  spite  of  the  fierce  opposition  of  the  Mullahs  the  common  people, 
though  very  poor,  eagerly  seek  for  the  Scriptures.  “  And  the  com¬ 
mon  people  heard  him  gladly  A 

Persia. — Here  the  American  Bible  Society  co-operates  especially 
with  Presbyterian  missions.  Remarkable  instances  are  given  of  the 
power  of  the  Gospel  to  find  a  way  into  the  most  prejudiced  hearts. 
The  missionaries  appeal  earnestly  for  an  enlargement  of  the  work 
of  the  Bible  Society  in  that  country.  Whether  this  shall  be  done 
depends  upon  the  contributions  of  the  churches  to  the  American 
Bible  Society. 

India. — “The  Bibles  granted  for  mission  schools  were  greatly 
needed  and  highly  appreciated.” 

Africa. — “Five  hundred  Zulu  Bibles  from  the  American  Bible 
Society  were  disposed  of  with  such  wonderful  quickness  that  a  ship¬ 
ment  of  1,000  more  was  needed  at  once.” 

Micronesia. — Scriptures  in  five  principal  dialects  and  in  some 
minor  ones  of  these  islands  have  been  furnished  to  the  missionaries 


of  the  American  Board,  making  many  hundred  volumes  this  past 
year. 


7.  i^crocgs  OncrottineD 


0  one  who  knows  the  modest,  patient,  self-sacrificing  and  coura- 


1  i  geous  labors  of  the  nearly  four  hundred  colporteurs  of  the 
American  Bible  Society,  in  different  parts  of  the  world,  would  hesitate 
in  according  them  this  title. 

Under  the  tropic  sun,  amid  snow  and  ice,  through  pathless  forests, 
by  dangerous  water-ways,  many  times  risking  their  lives,  often 
hungry,  weary,  and  worn,  and  like  the  Master  they  serve,  having  not 
where  to  lay  their  head — so  go  these  heralds  of  the  King,  these  un¬ 
crowned  heroes. 


In  Prison, 


In  Austria. — In  prison  on  false  charges  with  twenty  criminals,  one 
says  that  he  did  not  mind  it  much,  as  God  thus  gave  him  a  chance 
to  talk  to  these  men  of  the  way  of  life. 


In  Desert  Wilds, 


In  Arabia. — Traveling  amid  many  hardships  by  native  boat,  by 
donkey  or  camel,  or  tramping  on  foot,  selling  even  to  native  rulers 
and  desert  sheiks ;  meeting  hundreds  of  eager  buyers,  but  sometimes 
fanatics  to  seize  and  destroy  their  books. 


Laughed  At. 


In  Japan. — The  whole-hearted  and  wonderfully  successful  col- 
portage  work  of  Messrs.  Snyder  and  Lawrence  has  been  already  re¬ 
ferred  to.  Great  tact  and  courage  were  needed  by  Mr.  Lawrence, 
knowing  as  he  did  but  a  few  words  of  Japanese,  to  stand  on  a  busy 
city  street  amid  a  curious,  laughing  crowd,  asking  many  questions 
meaningless  to  him.  “  Had  I  not  known  it  was  the  Lord’s  word,” 
he  says,  “  I  could  not  have  persevered.”  But  he  did,  and  soon  the 
people  purchased  readily. 


An  Opportunity, 


In  Puerto  Rico. — An  earnest  worker  here  is  a  very  marvel  of  econ¬ 
omy  and  endurance.  Under  a  scorching  sun,  with  a  heavy  package 
of  books,  he  tramps  over  the  hills  on  foot,  selling  many  Bibles.  Twice 
he  has  walked  thirty-five  miles  from  his  home  to  give  in  his  accounts, 


27 


which  showed  a  balance  for  the  Society  over  and  above  his  wages 
and  expenses,  so  saving  and  successful  has  he  been.  If  only  he  could 
have  a  horse  his  work  would  be  doubled.  Here  is  an  opportunity  for 
a  pleasant  special  donation,  perhaps  from  some  Sabbath  school. 

A  Wonderful  Salesman. 

South  America. — A  colporteur  in  South  America  has  the  remark¬ 
able  Tecord  of  almost  9,000  volumes  sold  this  past  year.  It  was  from 
the  reading  of  one  of  his  Bibles  that  a  whole  family  was  converted. 

Nearly  9,000  Silent  Missionaries  left,  many  times  in  places  where 
there  is  no  Christian  work  of  any  kind;  surely  this  is  seed  sown  from 
which  God  will  give  the  increase  in  due  season. 

Enemies  Become  Friends. 

The  Levant. — A  colporteur  in  Turkey  writes:  “I  have  sold  to 
Catholics;  to  young  men  who  used  to  persecute  me.” 

Macedonia. — Here  the  colporteurs  have  been  handicapped  by  polit¬ 
ical  uncertainties,  but  the  Rev.  Mr.  House,  of  the  American  Board 
Mission  at  Salonica,  says,  “In  spite  of  all,  we  have  done  better  this 
year  than  last.” 


SELLING  BIBLES  IN  THE  STREETS  OP  JAPAN. 


28 


It  is  not  generally  understood  how  small  a  sum  pays  for  a  colpor¬ 
teur's  work.  In  some  places  it  is  only  $^0  for  twelve  months  of  toil  and 
travel. 

Heavy  Burdens. 

In  rough  mountain  regions,  terrible  hardships  of  travel  ;  in  the 
towns,  persecution,  often  stoning  in  the  street,  even  imprisonment; 
such  is  the  lot  of  colporteurs  in  Mexico.  But  some  of  the  men  who 
were  in  the  mobs  have  become  active  Christians  through  the  read¬ 
ing  of  Bibles  left  by  these  faithful  workers,  and  have  greeted  them 
lovingly  on  a  second  visit. 

In  Perils  Oft. 

In  the  Philippines  the  bare  recital  of  the  hardships  of  the  col¬ 
porteurs  of  the  past  year  would  make  too  painful  reading  to  be 
given  ;  miserable  and  meagre  food,  planks  for  beds,  false  friends  and 
concealed  would-be  assassins,  flooded  rivers,  roadless  and  pathless, 
almost  impenetrable  forests — these  did  not  hold  back  Mr.  Turner  and 
Carroll  Bear  from  taking  the  Bread  of  Life  to  the  many  hungry 
hearts  they  found. 

8.  €l)c  iconic  £>fftce 

ALL  missionary  work  is  better  furthered  in  these  days  by  organi- 
L  zation,  so  even  “The  Silent  Missionary”  has  to  have  its  so¬ 
ciety  to  care  for  its  interests  and  represent  it  before  the  great  public  to 
which  it  appeals  for  support.  The  American  Bible  Society  is  this 
representative  of  “The  Silent  Missionary”  before  the  American 
churches  and  the  American  people.  Its  headquarters  are  in  the 
Bible  House,  a  large  building,  covering  an  entire  block  in  the  heart 
of  New  York  City,  facing  upon  Astor  Place,  Fourth  Avenue,  Ninth 
Street,  and  Third  Avenue.  The  work  of  this  Society  is  managed  by  a 
Board  of  thirty-six  Christian  laymen,  representing  the  principal 
denominations  of  American  Christians.  They  hold  a  meeting  every 
month  on  the  first  Thursday.  The  Executive  Officers  are  three  Cor¬ 
responding  Secretaries  and  a  Treasurer,  who  is  also  the  General 
Manager  of  the  publishing  interests  of  the  Society  in  this  country. 
The  Secretaries  are  the  Rev.  John  Fox,  D.D.,  the  Rev.  William  I. 
Haven,  D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  Edward  P.  Ingersoll,  D.D.  Dr.  Ingersoll, 


29 


having-  been  elected  to  this  office  from  the  pastorate  of  the  Immanuel 
Congregational  Church  in  Brooklyn,  began  his  work  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1902.  The  Treasurer  is  Mr.  William  Foulke. 

The  Society  carries  on  its  work  through  Special  Committees, 
which  carefully  consider  various  matters  in  detail  and  present  them 
for  final  action  to  the  Board  at  its  monthly  meetings.  There  are 
Committees  on  Versions,  Finance,  Publication,  Distribution,  Agen¬ 
cies,  Legacies,  Anniversaries,  Auxiliaries,  and  an  Auditing  and  Gen¬ 
eral  Reference  Committee.  It  would  be  difficult  to  state  the  amount 
of  time  and  attention  which  the  gentlemen  on  these  Committees 
give  to  every  detail  connected  with  the  Society’s  interests. 

The  only  other  representatives  of  the  Society  at  work  in  the  home 
field  are  the  following  Field  Agents :  The  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Law, 
D.D.,  of  Spartanburg,  S.  C.,  Field  Agent  for  North  and  South  Caro¬ 
lina,  Georgia,  Florida,  and  Alabama  ;  the  Rev.  George  D.  French, 
D.D.,  of  Morristown,  Tenn.,  Field  Agent  for  Kentucky,  Tennessee, 
Mississippi,  and  Louisiana;  the  Rev.  John  Pearson,  D.D.,  10  Roanoke, 
Ludlow  Ave.,  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Field  Agent  for  Michigan,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  West  Virginia,  and  Ohio  ;  the  Rev.  S.  W.  Dickinson,  457 
Ashland  Ave.,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Field  Agent  for  Wisconsin,  Minne¬ 
sota,  North  and  South  Dakota,  Iowa,  and  Nebraska  ;  the  Rev.  A.  E. 
Colton,  12  Boswortli  Street,  Boston,  Mass.,  Field  Agent  for  the  New 
England  States,  and  the  Rev.  Frederick  D.  Greene,  Bible  House, 
New  York  City,  Field  Agent  for  New  York  City  and  State. 

The  Foreign  Agents  are :  The  Rev.  Marcellus  Bowen,  Bible  House, 
Constantinople,  of  the  Levant  Agency;  the  Rev.  Andrew  M.  Milne, 
Buenos  Ayres,  Argentina,  South  America,  of  the  La  Plata  Agency; 
the  Rev.  Henry  Loomis,  Yokohama,  of  the  Japan  and  Korean  Agen¬ 
cies;  the  Rev.  John  R.  Hykes,  D.D.,  14  Kiukiang  Road,  Shanghai, 
China,  of  the  China  Agency;  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Tucker,  Caixa  454  Rio 
de  Janeiro,  of  the  Brazil  Agency;  the  Rev.  H.  P.  Hamilton,  Box 
2155,  Mexico  City,  Mexico,  of  the  Mexico  Agency;  the  Rev.  J.  M. 
Lopez-Guillen,  Box  591, Havana,  Cuba,  of  the  Cuba  Agency;  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Norwood,  Bucaramanga,  Colombia,  South  America,  of  the 
Venezuela  and  Colombia  Agency ;  the  Rev.  John  Carrington,  Bang¬ 
kok,  Siam,  of  the  Siam  and  Laos  Agency;  the  Rev.  Francis  G. 
Penzotti,  Guatemala  City,  Guatemala,  of  the  Central  American 


30 


Agency;  the  Rev.  Donald  McLaren,  San  Juan,  Puerto  Rico,  of  the 
Puerto  Rico  Agency;  the  Rev.  Jay  C.  Goodrich,  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association,  Manila,  Philippine  Islands,  of  the  Philippine 
Agency. 

9.  ^omc  Important  figures 

THE  following  statement  of  receipts  and  disbursements  is  for  the 
year  ending  March  31,  1902.  The  Annual  Report  of  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Bible  Society  gives  very  carefully  tabulated  reports  of  all  gifts, 
legacies,  church  collections,  receipts  from  invested  funds,  and  all  other 
sources  of  income,  and  equally  careful  statements  of  all  expenditures. 
The  following  is  simply  a  suggestive  summary: 

The  Society  should  receive  very  greatly  increased  support,  so  that  it 
might  increase  and  strengthen  its  far-reaching  work ; 


Hrceipts  anti  Disbursements 


Receipts. 

Gifts  from  Individuals  .... 

$36,903  09 

Gifts  from  Auxiliaries  .... 

36,238  83 

Church  Collections  .... 

36,516  44 

Total  from  the  living 

$109,658  36 

Legacies . 

•  •  •  • 

115,892  24 

Returns  from  Sales  by  Foreign  Agents  and  from  Mis- 

sionary  and  other  Societies 

•  •  •  • 

52,534  67 

Returns  from  Sales  of  Books  Donated 

*  •  .  # 

6,388  82 

Returns  from  Sales  by  Agency  among 

Colored  People  of 

the  South . 

•  •  •  • 

1,275  08 

Income  from  Trust  Funds,  Available 

Investments,  and 

the  Burr  Fund  for  the  Blind 

•  •  o  • 

28,559  97 

Net  Income  from  the  Bible  House 

•  •  •  • 

16,404  03 

From  Auxiliaries  on  Purchase  Account 

•  •  •  • 

69,571  90 

Caleb  Foster  Memorial  Fund 

•  •  •  • 

100  00 

Balance  of  Business  Accounts 

•  •  •  • 

5,021  84 

Cash  balance,  March  31,  1901 

•  •  •  • 

27,767  08 

$433,173  99 

31 


Disbursements. 


Salaries  and  Expenses  of  Field  Agents  ....  $14,473  30 

Remittances  to  Foreign  Agents .  175,023  42 

Value  of  Books  sent  to  Foreign  Agents  ....  40,222  40 

Grants  of  Funds  to  Missionary  and  other  Societies  .  .  11,404  51 

Value  of  Books  sent  to  Foreign  Missionary  Societies  .  5,180  38 


Value  of  Books  Donated,  including  those  supplied  to  Life 


Members  and  to  the  Blind . 

16,196 

26 

Expenses  of  Agency  among  Colored  People  of  the  South 

2,144 

94 

Value  of  Books  sent  to  Agency  among  Colored  People  of 

the  South  .......... 

2,752 

74 

Net  value  of  Books  charged  to  Auxiliaries 

60,469 

19 

Net  cost  of  Bible  Society  Record  . . 

5,635 

48 

Salaries  of  Executive  Officers,  Bookkeepers,  and  Clerks, 

Traveling  Expenses,  Postage,  Stationery,  Printing,  etc. 

35,622 

64 

Balance  of  Annuity  Account  ...... 

1,088 

38 

Temporary  Investment . 

32,164 

25 

Sundries,  Legacy  Expenses,  etc. . 

1,466 

65 

Cash  balance,  March  31,  1902  ...... 

29,329 

45 

$433,173 

99 

Officer#  of  tl)c  American  "Bible  ^octctr 


President. 


V  ice-Presidents. 

HON.  JOSHUA  L.  CHAMEEKLAIN,  LL.D.,  Maine. 

GEN.  OLIVER  O.  HOWARD,  Vermont. 

HON.  (JORTLANDT  PARKER,  LL.D.,  New  Jersey. 

HON.  FRANK  M.  COCKRELL,  Missouri. 

HON.  JOHN  W.  FOSTER,  LL.D.,  District  of  Columbia. 
THEOPHILUS  A.  BROUWER,  Esq.,  New  York. 

CYRUS  NORTHROP,  LL.D.,  Minnesota. 

JAMES  H.  CARLISLE,  LL.D.,  South  Carolina. 

HON.  HOWARD  VAN  EPPS,  Georgia. 

JAMES  H.  TAFT,  Esq.,  New  York. 

ANNIS  MERRILL,  LL.D.,  California. 

HON.  WILLIAM  P.  DILLINGHAM,  Vermont. 

HON.  E.  E.  BEARD,  Tennessee. 

HON.  DAVID  JOSIAH  BREWER,  LL.D.,  District  of  Columbia. 
MERRILL  E.  GATES,  LL.D.,  District  of  Columbia. 

HON.  WILLIAM  J.  NORTHEN,  Georgia. 

HON.  EDWARD  H.  EAST,  Tennessee. 

WILLIAM  A.  ROBINSON,  Esq.,  Kentucky. 

ELBERT  A.  BRINCKERHOFF,  Esq.,  New  Jersey. 

JOHN  NOBLE  STEARNS,  Esq.,  New  York. 

HON.  JAMES  A.  BEAVER,  Pennsylvania. 

DANIEL  C.  GILMAN,  LL.D.,  Maryland. 

HON.  JOHN  B.  SMITH,  New  Hampshire. 

HON.  FRANCIS  M.  DRAKE,  Iowa. 

HORACE  HITCHCOCK,  Esq.,  Michigan. 


Secretaries. 

REV.  JOHN  FOX,  D.D.  REV.  WILLIAM  I.  HAVEN,  D.D. 

REV.  EDWARD  P.  INGERSOLL,  D.D. 


T  reasurer. 

WILLIAM  FOULKE. 


jHanagcr# 


Term — 1902  to  1906. 

A  LEXANDER  E.  ORR. 
GERARD  BEEKMAN. 

E.  FRANCIS  HYDE. 

H.  D.  NICOLL,  M.D. 
WILLIAM  H.  HARRIS. 
EZRA  P.  HOYT,  M.D. 
EDWARD  P.  TENNEY. 

A.  H.  GILBERT. 

HENRY  W.  JESSUP. 


Term — 1901  to  1905. 

WILLIAM  HOYT. 

T.  G.  SELLEW. 

GEORGE  FOSTER  PEABODY. 
EZRA  B.  TUTTLE. 

JAMES  S.  BAKER. 

HENRY  C.  M.  INGRAHAM. 
ALEXANDER  MAITLAND 
HENRY  S.  STEARNS,  M.D. 

J.  EDGAR  LEAYCRAFT. 


Term — 1900  to  1904. 

WILLIAM  T.  BOOTH. 
CHURCHILL  H.  CUTTING. 
JOHN  S.  PIERSON. 

DANIEL  J.  HOLDEN. 

JOHN  S.  McLEAN. 

WM.  JAY  SCHIEFFELIN. 
JAMES  WOOD. 

CHARLES  D.  LEVERICH. 
EDWARD  KIRK  BILLINGS. 


Term — 1899  to  1903. 

JOHN  E.  PARSONS. 
FREDERICK  STURGES. 

F.  WOLCOTT  JACKSON. 
JOHN  CROSBY  BROWN. 
GEORGE  G.  REYNOLDS. 
JAMES  A.  PUNDERFORD. 
JOHN  TRUSLOW. 

GEORGE  E.  STERRY. 
THOMAS  WHITTAKER. 


THE 


3StbIc  g>octtt£  Ixtcorb 


A  Monthly  Paper  giving  extended 
Accounts  of  the  Work  of  the  Amer¬ 
ican  Bible  Society,  with  Reports 
of  its  Receipts  and  Expenditures 
Fully  Illustrated 


Price,  30  Cents  a  Year 


Address,  Bible  House,  Astor  Place,  New  York  City 


THE 


.  .  . 

.  .  .  Annual  Report 


Illustrated 


Price  , 


10  Cents 


Address,  Bible  House,  Astor  Place,  New  York  City 


THE 


Ttnm  tan  BtWr  ^oartij 


SHOULD  RECEIVE 


AN  INCOME  OF  AT  LEAST  SEVEN  HUNDRED 
AND  FIFTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  A  YEAR 


TWO  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  THOUSAND 
DOLLARS  A  YEAR  FROM  THE  CHRISTIAN 
CHURCHES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  A  COL¬ 
LECTION  IN  EVERY  CHURCH 


ONE  THOUSAND  LEGACIES  OF  ONE  HUNDRED 
DOLLARS  AND  OVER 


GENEROUS  GIFTS  FROM  ALL  FRIENDS  OF 
CHRISTIAN  PROGRESS 


